It all began in 1772, when Junipero Serra founded the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. It's an active church, but travelers can stroll the grounds and tour the museum. Cross Mission Plaza for a peek at Bubblegum Alley—yes, the walls are stuck with thousands of wads of chewed gum. In and out of town, you'll find wineries and craft breweries. Kids enjoy the Creek Walk and Children's Museum. A San Luis Obispo vacation rental is a good base for driving up the coast to tour Hearst Castle at San Simeon.
Catch a taste—literally—of San Luis Obispo's main industry, agriculture, any Thursday when the farmers' market fills 6 blocks of Higuera Street downtown with fresh produce, flowers, barbecues, and family-friendly entertainers. Head to Avila Beach to tour historic 1890 Point San Luis Lighthouse and see its eye-popping vista. The peaks around SLO offer hiking and biking, guided or not. Some dozen wineries in the valley have tastings. A thriving theater scene includes the Cal Poly campus's performing arts center.
Pack those shorts and T-shirts and plan on outdoor activities, even if that morning marine fog makes the day seem iffy. Like much of coastal Southern California, San Luis Obispo has a cool, Mediterranean climate—dry in the summer, with daytimes in the 70s, and slightly wetter and cooler in winter. But be prepared for extremes, such as a scorching, 100-degree-plus stretch anytime from April through October, a 90-degree day in January, or a dip below zero for a day or so between November and February.
San Luis lies in a broad valley surrounded by peaks—of which the tallest, Bishop Peak, and others are open for hikes that reveal stunning views. A San Luis Obispo vacation rental is a rewarding stopover for coastal travelers midway between L.A. and Monterey. It's only 11 miles from the coast, so the beach is an easy diversion from town sights. Follow the coast north to Morro Bay to view sea otters and herons, try Piedras Blancas for elephant seals, or head south to Pismo Beach between October and February to glimpse migrating butterflies.
Fly into San Luis Obispo, CA (SBP-San Luis Obispo County Regional), the closest airport, located 3 mi (4.9 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that's convenient for your trip, you might consider flying into Santa Maria, CA (SMX-Santa Maria Public), which is 28.8 mi (46.4 km) away.
If you prefer train travel, the main station serving the city is San Luis Obispo Station.
Our 2021 property listings offer a large selection of 843 vacation rentals around San Luis Obispo. From 535 house rentals to 49 cabin rentals, find a unique house rental for you to enjoy a memorable holiday or a weekend with your family and friends.
Vrbo offers a large selection of vacation rentals near lovely places in San Luis Obispo. From Vrbo travelers, the top most popular points of interest to stay for a holiday trip or just for a weekend are:
But there are many other points of interest around San Luis Obispo listed on Vrbo where you can find your place to stay. Please use our search bar to access the selection of vacation rentals available near the point of interest of your choice.
Yes, of course. Vrbo has 535 Houses in San Luis Obispo. Our other popular types of vacation rentals in San Luis Obispo include:
But you can also enjoy a great stay in one of our other vacation rentals including Bungalows and more.
Yes, you can select your preferred vacation rental with pool among our 76 vacation rentals with pool available in San Luis Obispo. Please use our search bar to access the selection of vacation rentals available.